Thursday, April 02, 2015

Matt Duffy makes the Opening Day roster

Here's Andrew -- Bochy telegraphed that Duffy would make the club however the roster
shook out, praising the 24-year-old rookie after a spring in which he
hit .385 with three home runs – including an impressive shot Wednesday
off Corey Kluber, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner.“What a spring he’s had,” Bochy said of Duffy. “This kid, you just
love his at-bats and the way he fights up there. He’s done what you want
from a young kid – come in here and force the issue. We’ll have
something to announce here soon, real quick.”Bochy said Ishikawa’s back was among the reasons the Giants wanted to
“check off the box” of playing Brandon Belt in left field. Even with
Justin Maxwell on the club, the Giants don’t have a true fifth
outfielder on the roster. Ishikawa, at least, could’ve gone to left
field in a double-switch. It was his position in the postseason last
October, obviously.

Here's Gilmore --Duffy, ranked as the Giants' No. 8 prospect by MLB.com, hit a team-high .382 in the Cactus League and also led the Giants with 15 RBIs. He had three home runs, matching Joe Panik and Brandon Belt for the team lead."I don't know what else he could do," Giants manager Bruce Bochy
said. "There's nothing else. This series won't matter as far what
happens to Matt Duffy. What a terrific spring this kid's had. Wherever
we've put him, he's done a good job, and as far as swinging the bat. He
done what you're hoping all these guys do, young players, force the
issue. He certainly has done that."That was Duffy's No. 1 goal."My goal wasn't to put pressure on myself to make the team or do
anything like that," Duffy said. "It was just to make the decision as
hard as possible by playing my game the best way I can. So I was happy
that I felt like I was able to do that."